I think if people read more, that is a better world.

I knew that if I failed I wouldn't regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.

The most important single thing is to focus obsessively on the customer. Our goal is to be earth's most customer-centric company.

If we can keep our competitors focused on us while we stay focused on the customer, ultimately we'll turn out all right.

If everything you do needs to work on a three-year time horizon, then you’re competing against a lot of people, But if you’re willing to invest on a seven-year time horizon, you’re now competing against a fraction of those people, because very few companies are willing to do that. Just by lengthening the time horizon, you can engage in endeavours that you could never otherwise pursue. At Amazon we like things to work in five to seven years. We’re willing to plant seeds, let them grow—and we’re very stubborn. We say we’re stubborn on vision and flexible on details.

E-mail has some magical ability to turn off the politeness gene in a human being.

Strip malls are history.